The growing violence of armed gangs and the country’s political instability have led several governments to issue the highest-level travel warnings against visiting Haiti.
The situation in Haiti could hardly be more alarming. Armed gangs, which control approximately 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, symbolize the collapse of the country’s government, currently led on an interim basis by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.
Haiti has remained without a constitutional president since the assassination of Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Authorities openly acknowledge that the country is overwhelmed by instability, kidnappings, murders and the displacement of more than one million people. The crisis has become so severe that neighboring Dominican Republic has recently reinforced its border, while the United Nations has authorized the deployment of an international force.
With a population exceeding 12 million inhabitants as of May 2026, insecurity continues to spread due to the high risk of armed robberies and gang violence across the country. This situation has prompted several Caribbean-region governments to issue Level 4 travel advisories – meaning « Do Not Travel » to Haiti. This is the highest warning level issued by the U.S. Department of State and is reserved for destinations where « the risk to life, safety and freedom is extreme. »
Extreme gang violence
Since the assassination of Moïse in 2021, Haiti has suffered from « a power vacuum and chronic instability, with widespread impunity, » according to regional media outlets such as Diario Libre, El Caribe and Latina Noticias. Some analysts argue that « the only hope » lies in the creation of an international force capable of curbing the enormous power accumulated by the gangs.
Meanwhile, the United States, Spain and other countries continue to maintain Haiti at the highest alert level not only because of extreme violence, but also due to the country’s limited healthcare capacity. Spain has issued several warnings about the dangers of traveling to Haiti and recommends that Spanish citizens currently in the country whose presence is not essential leave temporarily, preferably through commercial flights, due to « the insecurity affecting most roads. »
Along similar lines, and considering that the current uncertainty has worsened steadily since 2021, the United States is also seeking to protect its citizens from both the violence in the streets and recurring shortages of fuel and basic goods.
Reschedule non-essential travel
For its part, Argentina’s Embassy in Haiti advises its nationals to « reschedule all non-essential travel » to the country and, if temporarily present there, to « leave as soon as possible. »
The embassy also recommends closely following local news and official announcements from Haitian authorities, as well as checking official sources regarding flight availability if departure from the country becomes necessary. Citizens are additionally urged to review passport expiration dates and contact the Consular Section if documentation needs to be updated.
Despite the current crisis, humanitarian missions known as « White Helmets » –Argentina’s official humanitarian assistance agency– continue to operate in Haiti. More than a decade ago, over 13,000 troops from Chile, Argentina and Brazil arrived in Port-au-Prince to participate in MINUSTAH, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, created to support the country’s Transitional Government.
The mission aimed to establish « a safe and stable environment through reform of the Haitian National Police and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programs. » However, the results ultimately fell short of expectations.
Today, due to « the high risk of kidnapping for foreigners, » official recommendations insist that residents remain indoors and reduce street movement to an absolute minimum.
Two journalists killed in one week
As the crisis deepens, authorities are also advising residents to stockpile water, fuel, non-perishable food and other essential supplies.
The latest available figures on Haiti’s street violence show that between January 1 and March 31, 2026, the country recorded 1,642 deaths and 745 injuries. Sexual violence is also reportedly being used as a weapon, while more than three million children are suffering from food insecurity and urgently require humanitarian assistance.
The worsening situation has also heightened concerns about the vulnerability of Haitian media workers. In separate incidents during the first days of May, two sports journalists were murdered, increasing fears over press safety in the country.
The victims were Jean Brunet Bontemps, a journalist for Radio Energie who was shot dead on May 1 at his residence near Sylvio Cator Stadium in Port-au-Prince, and sports photographer Jean-Marc Stevenson Ysemai, whose body was found on May 4 in the southern city of Les Cayes. These killings add to a growing number of attacks against Haitian journalists and media professionals.
Regional and international impact
The escalation of violence in Haiti is already having repercussions across the region. In the Dominican Republic, authorities have reportedly moved to close airspace and the land border due to the deteriorating situation in the neighboring country, according to the outlet Tourinews.
At the same time, several European governments –including Spain, Germany, France and the United Kingdom– have begun advising their citizens not to travel to Haiti under any circumstances because of the extreme levels of violence.
The most troubling aspect of the crisis is that Haiti’s National Police lacks sufficient resources, while violent gangs maintain close ties with political and economic sectors, further deepening the instability.